Sanctuary Stories

Honey and Hambone the dogs looking at each other nose-to-nose

Timid dog and her new family help each other heal

Honey was shy and shut down when she came to the Sanctuary, but in her new home wi...
Read about life her her new home
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Karigan the dog with a cast on one leg behind a bookshelf next to a smiling person sitting in an office chair

Dog found on highway survives, thrives, and goes home

Karigan was barely alive and couldn’t move after likely being hit by a car, but af...
Now she's living her best life
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Tilly the sulfur-crested cockatoo with wings outspread and head cocked to the side

Wallflower cockatoo blossoms into dancing king

Tilly was shy when he arrived at the Sanctuary, and after trying everything to get...
See him move to the groove
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Dolly the calico kitten on a blue blanket playing with a rainbow colored fleece toy

From tongue to tail, kitten thrives after trauma

Dolly was in rough shape — covered in ticks, incontinent, with sores on her tongue...
Read about her recovery
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Nancy sitting with Yogi and Tank the dogs and Pong the cat on a multi-colored blanket

Dreams come true for doggy duo with tricky behaviors

It took some extra time to find Yogi and Tank a home that stuck, but now they have...
See how they make it work
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Several dogs snuggling together on a dog bed

27 dogs and cats find sanctuary at Best Friends

A mystery in the middle of the desert, these dogs and cats needed help — but now t...
From the Sanctuary to homes of their own
Best Friends Magazine
Painting of two happy parakeets (one green and one blue) with their eyes closed

Artists spread joy and highlight homeless pets

The team of artists at Art While Apart give pets of all shapes and sizes the model...
See their work
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Person scratching the chin of Cash the dog

Dog who temporarily lost sight has friends to lean on

When Cash temporarily lost his sight, he became extra nervous about being petted —...
Patience helps him open up
Best Friends Magazine
Susan Fishbein sitting outside in the sand with a large brown dog

Volunteers expand homeless dogs’ worlds

From walks and car etiquette to first-time sleepovers and long-term fostering, Sus...
They've become invaluable team members
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Volunteer Bill Splitter, smiling, between his two daughters Trischa and Elizabeth

Air Force vet to full-time volunteer with dogs

Volunteering changed veteran, dog lover, logistics legend, and epic animal transpo...
Remembering Bill's legacy
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Brenda and Marty Winnick smiling and holding an orange tabby cat

Volunteers work and play hard at Best Friends

For Brenda and Marty Winnick, volunteering at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary means ...
They do a bit of everything
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Ron Swanson and Pancake the dogs, on an agility platform, both smiling

Best friends at Best Friends: Pancake and Ron Swanson

Meet one of our favorite odd couples: two dogs known affectionately as “Roncake.”...
Meet the best buds
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Dolly Parton the cat lying on a couch behind Scott

Three-legged cat is full of surprises

Dolly Parton’s new family was prepared to make their home accessible to her, and t...
She made herself right at home
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Jovie the dog out on a walk on a path by red rock cliffs

Cancer survivor dog finds her calling

Jovie nearly lost her leg to cancer, but now she’s healthy and happy in her new ho...
Bringing comfort to others
Best Friends Magazine
Simon the cockatoo on a couch on the leg of a smiling person

Determined cockatoo climbs into the lap of luxury

Simon’s shyness was keeping him from getting adopted, but when he spotted the fami...
See how he's settled in
Best Friends Magazine